Kevin Ward Jr. started young, loved to race

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Kevin Ward Jr. in the victory lane with his car in July 2014.

Story highlights

Kevin Ward Jr. finished second in his first race -- when he was 4 years old

He had a lot of potential, director of racing series tells USA Today

Four years ago, he was the rookie of the year in his circuit

Neighbors remember him as polite, a good guy

As soon as he could, Kevin Ward Jr. got in a race car. As soon as he could, Kevin Ward Jr. started winning races.

Ward was just 4 years old, not even in school, when he got behind the wheel of a go-kart. In his first race, he took second. In the next eight years, he won 250 events and six championships, according to his racing website.

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"He's just a good kid, a hard worker. He loved doing what he did, and he loved his family," Vicki Shue told the station.

Ward died Saturday night from injuries suffered when he was hit on a small dirt track by the race car of NASCAR star Tony Stewart. The 20-year-old had gotten out of his car after a tangle with Stewart caused him to spin out, and he appeared to want to vent his anger at the three-time NASCAR champion.

Police are investigating to see if criminal charges are warranted.

When Ward was little he would hop in a go-kart and drive it until it ran out of gas. Then he would put some more fuel in and go so more, family friend Steven Mooney told CNN affiliate WHAM.

People could see him riding his bicycle as fast as he could up and down the streets of Port Leyden, a village in upstate New York.